Marvin J. Ashton Biography Quotes 2 Report mistakes

Early Life and Family
Marvin J. Ashton was born in 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah, into a family with deep Latter-day Saint roots. His father, Marvin O. Ashton, served as a general authority in the First Council of the Seventy, and the example of steady religious service at home shaped the younger Ashton's sense of duty and discipline. Growing up in a community where faith, work, and civic responsibility were intertwined, he developed the calm demeanor and thoughtful manner that later became hallmarks of his ministry. He married Norma B. Ashton, whose steady partnership and devotion supported his demanding schedule and grounded his life in family priorities. Together they cultivated a home where faith, education, and service were emphasized.

Path to Church Leadership
Before he joined the highest councils of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ashton worked in business and community endeavors in Utah. Those experiences sharpened the practical focus he later brought to religious administration, especially in matters of welfare, provident living, and personal integrity. He accepted successive church assignments that widened his administrative reach and pastoral contact, including service as a general authority in the era when the Church was expanding rapidly beyond the Intermountain West. In 1969 he was called as a general authority, and early in the 1970s he became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles under the presidency of Joseph Fielding Smith, continuing that service through the administrations of Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, and Ezra Taft Benson.

Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
As an apostle, Ashton traveled extensively to visit congregations, encourage local leaders, and help organize church units in North America, Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia. He worked closely with fellow apostles such as Thomas S. Monson, Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, and later Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, and Dallin H. Oaks, and he collaborated frequently with Gordon B. Hinckley in training, public communication, and administrative oversight. His approach was measured, pastoral, and pragmatic, characterized by concise teaching and a focus on daily discipleship. He was trusted as a counselor on welfare and humanitarian questions, reflecting his belief that spiritual growth and temporal self-reliance reinforce one another.

Teachings and Writings
Marvin J. Ashton became widely known for addresses that emphasized charity, honesty, and the discipline of everyday kindness. His sermon The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword urged restraint, civility, and compassion in speech at a time when public discourse was coarsening, and The Measure of Our Hearts explored self-examination, humility, and the quiet virtues that build strong communities and families. He authored the widely distributed guide One for the Money, a concise manual on family finance, budgeting, debt avoidance, and provident living. It reflected his conviction that sound temporal stewardship frees individuals to serve others more fully. Across his talks and writings, Ashton returned repeatedly to themes of forgiveness, inclusion, and the healing power of Christlike love, challenging listeners to see beyond surface appearances and to lift those on the margins.

Service and Global Ministry
During years of rapid church growth, Ashton's ministry often placed him in congregations far from headquarters, where he met with local bishops, youth, and families, listening more than he spoke. He sustained the Church's longstanding commitment to youth development and Scouting programs, urging leaders and parents to cultivate character, skill, and service. He supported welfare efforts that linked short-term relief to long-term self-reliance, and he encouraged members to engage in quiet acts of neighborly help. His leadership style balanced doctrinal clarity with pastoral warmth, and he sought outcomes that strengthened both individual faith and community resilience.

Personal Character and Relationships
Those who worked with Marvin J. Ashton often noted his courtesy, steadiness, and attentiveness. In councils, he preferred careful questions to quick conclusions, and he treated disagreement as an opportunity to learn rather than to prevail. Norma B. Ashton remained central to his life and ministry, accompanying him when possible and offering perspective that tempered his workload. He kept close ties to his family of origin and honored the legacy of his father, Marvin O. Ashton, by mentoring younger leaders in the same quiet, consistent way he had been mentored. His colleagues, including President Spencer W. Kimball and President Ezra Taft Benson, valued his reliability and his capacity to translate broad goals into practical steps.

Later Years and Legacy
Ashton served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until his death in 1994 in Salt Lake City. In his final years he continued to publish messages that emphasized gentleness, integrity, and the deliberate choice to build up rather than tear down. Tributes from across the Church described a leader who resisted harshness, avoided showmanship, and trusted the incremental power of goodness. His teachings on measured speech, financial prudence, and the deeper meaning of charity have remained in active circulation among Latter-day Saints, shaping lessons in homes and congregations. The legacy of Marvin J. Ashton endures in the countless private decisions influenced by his counsel: homes made more peaceful, debts avoided or paid down, neighbors treated with patience, and conversations elevated by kindness. In these small, steady ways, his life's work continues.

Our collection contains 2 quotes who is written by Marvin, under the main topics: Learning from Mistakes - Joy.